Naim Audio DR Power Supplies

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This month sees the launch of the DR (discrete Regulator) to greatly enhance the performance of the Power Supplies, models: HiCap,XPS2,Supercap, 552PS and 555PS. See text from Naim’s site for full explanation.

 DR Board

I’m please to announce we are the first Audio-T store to have a DR specified product on demo in the form of the HiCap2 DR.

 

Like the XPS2DR we heard the other day (one on its way soon and sounded almost as good as an 555PS on our CDX2 Cd player though I can’t wait to hear how the DR improves the 555PS) the new HiCap is a truly astounding upgrade and has to heard to be believed.

 

I hope to be holding a ‘DR’ event nearer the time when Naim can offer upgrades to older units but in the meantime why not book a demo to hear it for yourselves. You are welcome to bring in your existing units to compare. And for those that really can’t wait until Oct/Nov there is always an option to part exchange your existing unit and have a shiny new one with a full 5 year warranty!

 

From Naim’s website: 

“The addition of outboard power supplies offers an established upgrade path for many Naim products. By improving the supplies themselves, removing the electromagnetic field of the transformer and interference generated by the rectifier diodes, and by eliminating transformer vibration from the product case, Naim power supplies offer improved sound quality.

The role of the regulator

Voltage regulators are widely deployed within Naim power supplies to ensure that audio and digital circuits operate with a stable, low noise supply voltage, thereby maximising their performance. Naim’s new discrete regulator betters industry standard monolithic voltage regulators and, even more importantly, has had its design and component selection refined in the listening room to deliver maximised sound quality from Naim’s audio circuits.

A pure development project

As well as incorporating the newly developed DR in these five power supplies, Naim has reviewed and optimised every aspect of their design. Transformer mounting, wire gauge, wire routing, mechanical decoupling, internal layout and reservoir capacitors have all been scrutinised to ensure that the DR’s benefits are fully realised. The result of the inclusion of the new DR regulators and the updates to design is a quite significant increase in performance which helps the listener to really connect with the artist and music.

Updating your product

Existing units can be updated but very few technicians outside of Naim’s Salisbury facility will be able to undertake this. Naim is offering a special reduced price to customers for updates to the new specification for power supplies that were shipped from Naim after 1st February (outside UK) and 1st March (in the UK). These units will be prioritised for updates in the first instance, however from October / November 2012 all existing units will be able to be updated”

For the more technically minded:

 http://www.naimaudio.com/sites/default/files/products/downloads/files/naim-dr_whitepaper_may2012_issue1.pdf


DR Board


Below is an internal view of the existing HiCap. Note the totally different regulators.

Previous HiCap internal


Welcome back

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Hello and a big welcome back from Ian, Gavin, Andy and Darren at Audio T Preston.

We are going back to our roots in a bigger way than we have before! We offer a wide range of Hi-Fi to cater for all tastes and budgets, to suit customers who are just starting out with their first stereo separates all the way up to the accomplished enthusiast who is looking to fine tune their system.

Over the next few months we have new electronics coming in from manufacturers such as Naim, Cyrus and  Rega to compliment the many product we have ready to demonstrate. We also have the new Onkyo TX-NR616 already in store, wired up and sounding great, but if want a little more we also have the Anthem MRX-500 ready to go.

We have new Speaker ranges from KEF, Monitor Audio, PMC and Bowers and Wilkins with both stereo and surround sound packages available.

To complete the look of your system we offer many furniture ranges from great manufacturers like Apollo, Just Racks, Spectral and Hi-Fi Racks to name but a few.

Our two dedicated demonstration rooms are ready for both stereo enthusiasts and home cinema fans. Either are available upon request, simply let us know what you want to hear.

These are exciting times for us so come and visit our store and see what's new. 

Naim Superuniti

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We've had the Superuniti in store for a while now and just wanted to let you know how impressed we are with this fantastic product.  Anyone looking for a one box hi-fi system without compromise need look no further.  The comprehensive specification includes DAB/FM, internet tuner, network streaming and more than enough power to drive even the least sensitive speakers to high levels.  The audio quality is simply stunning.  Do give us a call to arrange a demonstration.  We are sure you can't fail to be impressed.

STOP PRESS:  If £3250 for the Superuniti is a little over your budget and you want to continue playing CDs Naim have just announced a new improved version of the Uniti, the Uniti 2.  Building on the runaway success of the original Uniti, the updated model incorporates a bigger power supply with separate windings for DAC, analogue, power amp, relays, CD player and digital control.  Power output increases from 50W to 70W along with upgraded DAC and Naim's latest 24 bit 192kHz streaming board.  CD playback has not been overlooked either with an improved laser mechanism and loading tray.  All this for £2795!  We look forward to the Uniti 2 arriving in store very soon!  

Naim joins Britain's elite at the Make it in Great Britain exhibition

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Naim Audio have been selected for involvement in a prestigious UK exhibition taking place this summer. Make it in Great Britain takes place at the Science Museum in London from 24th July to 9th September 2012. Naim’s dedication to consistently developing the highest quality home audio products over the last 35 years has earned it a place alongside other British manufacturing greats such as McLaren, Airbus, Rolls Royce and Sunseeker in this prestigious exhibition ahead of hundreds of other applicants.

Championing British Manufacturing
The aim of the Make it in Great Britain campaign is to banish the myth that ‘Britain doesn’t make anything anymore’ at a time when the world’s eyes are on Britain throughout the Olympic and Paralympic games and in the Diamond Jubilee year. The exhibit will tell the engineering story behind Naim products through interactive installations and ‘a great British hi-fi system’ playing ‘great British music’. Entry to the exhibition will be free of charge.

We look forward to hearing more about the products Naim plan to Show in the near future, meanwhile here's a little photo from the archives...

Brighton Vinyl Day on Saturday 12th May now with REGA

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As our Vinyl Roadshow approaches I am delighted to tell you that

REGA WILL BE JOINING US with DIVERSE VINYL BETWEEN 10 am AND 5 pm!  

Rega will be joining us for this event, with our account manager Rob Noble here for the day, along with..............
A preview of the NEW TOP OF THE RANGE RS10 LOUDSPEAKERS £7998 pr
They will be used in a REGA Reference Series System with Rega P9 turntable/ Apheta MC cartridge/ New IOS Reference phono stage/ Osiris Reference Integrated amplifier and Isis Reference CD player.
The NEW Rega RP6 turntable, and the RP3 and RP1 models will be on display.
We are hoping to be able to show the NEW Fono MM and NEW Ear Headphone Amp.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT DAY AND HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE...............................

 

Thick As A Brick

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For those of a certain age, I’m sure you’ll remember the day when Jethro Tull released their Thick As A Brickalbum. Yep, 40 years ago!

 Recorded in answer to the accusation that their previous release, and my all-time-favourite album Aqualung, was a concept album. Ian Anderson has always said this wasn’t so, that it was simply an album were a few songs were of a similar theme, notably God and religion, the remaining songs were wholly unrelated.

 So he wrote TAAB to show the critics what a concept album is really like! Somewhat tongue-in-cheek lyrically, featuring the early years of a fictitious 10 year old boy named Gerald Bostock, the music is complex in the tradition of prog-rock with only two ‘songs’ one per side but the melodic qualities of the band’s previous albums remain.

 So why am I telling you this? Well, after much encouragement over the years, Ian Anderson was finally persuaded to write a follow-up album which ponders what Gerald Bostock might be doing now, 40 years on.

 Released April 2nd and simply titled TAAB2 and credited as Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson as no other members of the original Tull line-up are present, each song ponders an alternative career move or what might have become of him.

 Sympathetically recorded to fit with the original and mixed by none other than Steve Wilson of Porcupine Tree, the sound is astonishing. I feared an over produced, over played dud but have been rewarded with none of the like. There’s none of the 80’s kitch and electronic drums, hyper-bowl Dire Straits like guitar sounds here that for me ruined much of Tull’s later efforts, instruments sound like instruments. It was apparently recorded live in the studio in the main as was the original.

 But the really good news is that the band are touring this but better than that, they intend to play the whole suite, yes, TAAB 1&2. Tull have not played the original since its first tour in 1972. Check out their site http://www.j-tull.com/ for dates a tickets I’ve mine for Reading in May.

 Enjoy.

 

Simon

Easter New Arrivals!

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Just to show that Mother Nature doesn't have a monopoly on all things new as Spring bursts forth, we have some brand new products to share with you.

The fantastic new PMC Twenty 22 stand mounted speakers are now available in store for you to enjoy on their matching 2122 stands.  We've been blown away by the musicality and resolution of these great speakers. Judging by the reaction in the hi-fi press we are not alone!

 

 

Anyone looking for an Easter present for the music lover in their life, even if that is yourself, Arcam have the ideal hi-fi accessory for iPod, iPhone and iPad users in the form of the dr Dock.  It is a no compromise iPod dock featuring a top quality cast alloy housing with HDMI as well as coaxial digital and analogue RCA outputs and remote control.  All this for £199.  Go on treat yourself!

 

 

For those seeking a Home Cinema speaker package capable of producing the dynamics required for movie soundtracks whilst maintaining domestic harmony B&W have the ideal solution.  The updated M1 satellite speakers have refined the winning formula which made the original M1 such a success story.  All areas have been improved, including drive units, power handling and low frequency extension.  It's a lot of speaker for a modest £149.00 each.

 

The new B&W PViD subwoofer is the perfect match for the M1 satellites.  The iconic pressure vessel design is retained from its predecessor with the addition of all new digital signal processing allowing far greater control and incorporating presets for seamless integration with a wide range of satellite speakers in both two channel and home cinema systems.  The speed and transient capability which was the hallmark of the original design has been enhanced and low frequency slam is markedly superior.

 

 

Many more tempting treats are available in store including some great streaming solutions from Sonos, Cyrus and Naim and a wide range of DACs from Arcam, Audiolab, Cyrus, Rega and Naim.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Alan and John

 

 

 

 

Spring has arrived!

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The first signs of spring are with us and so too are some exciting additions to our product profile.

 

First off are the recent Bowers & Wilkins PM1 loudspeakers. A most beautiful loudspeaker that would grace any room. Resplendent in their high gloss ‘mocca’ veneer with matching stands they sound as good as they look and really engage one in whatever music takes your fancy, well done B&W for designing a product that doesn’t sacrifice sound for the aesthetic.

 

Next up, Rega are still busy guys producing more fabulous new products the latest of  which is the RP6 turntable. A natural progression from their highly successful RP3, in a gorgeous high gloss finish. Key features are a new ‘flywheel effect’ glass platter and an aluminium brace.

 

Naim too have been busy, expanding their range of ‘streaming’ products. We now have the baby of the range in the form of the ND5XS. A scaled down version of the NDX if you like, it really shows how streaming should be done!

 

We also hope to showcase their flagship streamer, the NDS, sometime soon. Watch this space!

 

Whilst on the subject of premium products, Chord Electronics have very recently upgraded their QBD76 DAC to include full support for HD audio furthering their position of making one of the most potent DACs on the market today.

 

Last but definitely not least, we have a brilliant new D33 DAC from Arcam. They’ve gone full out to produce a state-of-the-art DAC with multiple inputs and full support for HD audio. A slam dunk as they say.

 

All of the above are all now fully run in and ready for demo/home demo, please call to arrange an appointment.

 

Simon

 

Brighton Vinyl Day on Saturday 12th May

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The people from Diverse Vinyl will be joining us to promote a day to celebrate the record and the record player in store. We will have a selection of records for sale and will be featuring the record players from Linn and Rega, so come along and enjoy the day with us. More details will follow closer to the event but we are hoping to have some new and rather interesting products to play to you !
Taking place over the same weekend is the Brighton Great Escape Festival
http://escapegreat.com/

Bristol Show report

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The Show is now over for another year and we are highly delighted to report that it was the most successful Show for 4 years.

If you didn't make it down to Bristol then there are already a few reports on the internet that you can check out to get a feel for what you missed:

What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision

Hi-Fi World

Our next Show is in Manchester on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st October. Put the date in your diary today and bookmark the website.

The Bristol Show will return in 2013 on Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th at the Marriott City Centre Hotel.

You can also keep up-to-date by following us on Facebook:

Manchester Show

Bristol Show